Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Towey for his frankness. Does that not cast a level of favouritism on the interim chair because they will be given access to intimate knowledge that nobody else will have access to in a competition for the new positions? Did Mr. Towey not consider that the interim chair be appointed on the basis that they would not go forward for that role? A route has been opened up here which does not look good. This does not in any way question the capacity or abilities of the interim chair. We can have all those discussions if or when the individual comes before the committee. However, it is a major lapse in good governance by a Department around something so serious, considering the work Mr. Towey talked about which needs to be done. Quite frankly, the legislation has not gone through yet.

Furthermore, I cannot for the life of me understand why there was no approach to somebody on the existing board who would have known about the discussions and debates and had access to all the information. I have to put to Mr. Towey that it is absolutely flabbergasting.